Automatic density-indicator for slime-pulp separators



C. ALLEN. AUTOMATIC DENSITY INDICATOR FOR SLIME PULPDSEPARATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3; 1919.

0 W 1 2 2 e m m H..- m o 7 3 I 4 W 4 w 1 F CHARLES ALLEN, OF EL IPASO, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIG DENSITY-INDICATOR FOB LIME-PULP SEPARATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11119 22, 1920,

Application filed April 3, 1919. Serial No. 287,124.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ALLEN, a'

citizen of the United States, residin at El Paso, in the county of El Paso and tate of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Densit -Indicators for Slime-Pulp Separators, of wiii lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for thickening slimes in ore milling operations or wherever it is desirable to increase or regulate the densityof a suspension of solids in a liquid the invention including means for automatically indicating the density of the fluid mass undergoing treatment.

In my pending application, Serial Number 232,422, I have outlined in detail an apparatus in which the thickening proceeds uniformly and is regulated through the density of the medium surrounding the actuating member.

The present invention pertains especially to means for indicating the density at any and all times and controlling or varying the density of the discharge and regulating it so that discharge may not take place below a predetermined density.

The invention consists of the parts and i the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more jfully described and claimed, having reference to the igure 1 is an elevation and partial section of an apparatus suitable for carrying out the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of'the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a preferred form of indicator. Fig. 4 is an end view of the device illustrated in Fig. 3.

" A indicates a tank of suitable construe- The operations of the spigot 3 are controlled through the medium of a link 10, connecting at 11 with a lever 13, which latter is fulcrumed at 14 on brackets 15 upstanding from the horizontal cross-bar 16; the inner end of the lever 13 being forked,

oh the fol- .fioat and for convenience in this specification and in the claims thetermfloat will indicate such a device; and while the displacement member will not possess suflicient buoyancy to cause it to float in water, et it possesses such properties of buoyancy t at when the density of the fluid mass over the spigot and around the float is sufficient, the float will rise and open the valve 3. As the density of the fluid mass decreases, the float will correspondingly fall and tend to close the valve. Hence it/ is that the term float does not mean a constantly buoyant member but one which may act in a buoyant manner under certain conditions. i I

With the foregoing construction there is thus produced an automatic and continuous discharge of the settled materials with this discharge of uniform density. Inaddition to this, I provide means whereby any desired density may be obtained and controlled within working limits, and I particularly whereby the density will be automatically indicated to the attendant. I

In the resent instance a convenient and practical orm of regulator and indicator is provided by the spring-balance which is generally indicated at 20, having a pointer 21 controlled by a stem 22 which carries an adjusting screw 23 adapted to bear against the underside-of the lever 13.

It is evident that the pressure of the ball 3 on the spigot prevents the end-24 of the lever 13 from rising higher. If the adjust ing screw 23 is now turned u wardly a ainst the lever 13. and that end 0 the lever ing practically immovable against further upward movement, the resulting pressure, due to the turning of the screw 23, is registered on the dial of the spring-balance 20. Hence whatever the pressure on the spring-balance 20 may be, a compensating force has'to be expended on the lever 13 before the end 24 of lever 13 can drop in order to open the valve 3.

' It is also evident that every increase in upward force exerted by the spring-balance j 20 on the underside of the end 24 of the lever 13 calls for a corresponding buoyancy in the actuating member 18 before it can, through the connecting parts, open the spigot 2, and

as the buoyancy of the member 18 is dependent upon the density of the medium in which it is immersed, the density of the medium must increase sufliciently to counterbalance the tension of the spring balance 20 before the increased density of the medium is available for actuation. As soon as the' displacement member'l8 is immersed. When the density of the medium surrounding the displacement member 18 falls below equilibrium with the member 18 the spigot 2 is closed by the ball 3. Every movement of the member 18 causes a corresponding movement of the lever 13, and every movement of the lever 13 is registered on the dial of the spring-balance 20.

Suppose that when the tank A contains clear water only, that the actuating member 18 is so near in equilibrium that the spigot 2 is just closed by the ball 3 as shown by the pointer 21 registers zero on the dial of the displacement member 18. When the volume of the member 18 is known a simple calculation gives its buoyancy for each 0.01 increase in the density of the medium in which it is immersed, and the dial of the spring-balance 20 can be so marked that each mark represents a variation of 0.01 in the density of the medium surrounding the member 18. Assume the desired density to be 1.25 then to commence operations on that density all that is necessary is to turn the bolt 23 until the pointer 21 registers 1.25 on the dial of the spring-balance 20. The member 18 will not rise (thereby opening the spigot) until the surrounding medium has attained a density of 1.25 and the member 18 will sink and close the spigot whenever the density of the surrounding medium falls below 1.25. Hence the density indicator is a direct means of adjusting the machine so as to thicken its contents. to any desired density.

Should the parts get out of adjustment through wear or otherwise, so that the ball 3 does not completely close the spigot 2 when the density of the medium surrounding the member 18 falls slightly below 1.25, then to completely close the spigot, the member 18 must sink lower than when all the parts are in perfect adjustment, and the additional sinking causes a proportionate rise of the end 24 of the lever 13, which rise is instantly registered on the dial of springbalance 20. Conversely, an obstruction to the free flow through the spigot 2 will result in an increase in the density of the medium surrounding the member 18 and this will result in a rise of the member 18 and a corresponding depression of the end 24 of the lever 13, which depression is registered on the dial of the spring-balance 20 which shows the increase in the density of the medium. Hence the density indicator instantly registers irregularities in the operation of the thickener.

While I have shown a spring-balance with a dial, it is manifest that various other forms of indicators may be employed, the present form being such a one as now .successfully used in actual mill service.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Y 1. In a device for separating a feed stream into two products, each of a different density, a receptacle having a separate outlet for each of the products, a valve for controlling the outlet for the heavier product, means automatically responsive to the variations in the densit of the heavier product to control the discharge valve, an indicator operatively connected to the control means Fig. 1, and with the parts in that position for indicating thedensity oii the discharge material, and means in connection with the indicator to set the control means so that the discharge will occur onl when a predetermined density is reache 2. In a thickener, a receptacle, a valvecontrolled discharge orifice in said receptacle for permitting the settled material to I be discharged, a float located in the recep tacle in the area of the settled material for operating the valve whereby to permit discharge of the settled material when the latter reaches a predetermined'density and an indicator included in the connections between the float and valve, said indicator including adjustable means to resist the rise of the float.

3. In a. thickener, a receptacle having a valve-controlled discharge orifice for the discharge of settled material, means automatically responsive to the variations in the density of the settled material to operate the valve and an indicator included in the connections between said operating means and the valve and means to adjust the indicator whereby to prevent opening of the valve until a predetermined density of the settled material has been reached.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. 'SwE'r'r, PHIL M. REILLY. 

